Kit review San Felipe - OcCre - 1/86 - review by Kevin

[Kevin]

1/86 San Felipe 

OcCre

Catalogue # 15002

Available from Occre for 449,99€

 

 

The vessel known by several names, such as "San Felipe," "El Real," or "Real Felipe," is named after Felipe V of Spain, the first king of the Bourbon dynasty in Spain.

This ship, built in 1716 at the shipyards of San Feliú de Gixols, is a three-deck first-class warship. Its design includes a robust construction with double internal and external planking, providing great hull strength.

The magnitude of its construction, which used over 4,000 trees, contributed to deforestation in Spain according to some historians.

With 108 cannons and impressive measurements of 67 meters in length, 16.5 meters in beam, and 12 meters in height, the San Felipe, adorned with majestic sculptures, was a formidable adversary capable of facing any enemy of the time.

Its service began in the Sardinia campaign in October 1717 under the command of squadron leader D. Esteban Mari Centurione. Subsequently, it participated in the Sicily campaign in 1718 under the direction of Captain D. Pedro Despoix and squadron leader D. Antonio Gaztañeta e Iturribalzaga.

After completing its mission, the San Felipe was taken to Syracuse and then sent to Mahón, which was under British control. However, negligence resulted in a fire and explosion, completely destroying the San Felipe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kevin]

The kit

Scale: 1/86
Width: 320mm
Height: 630mm
Length: 830mm
Difficulty: High

 

i have a thing about 3 decker's, even though i have only completed the Caldercraft  1/72 HMS Victory, another 2 have been destroyed  prior to completion by wife (ex wife) number two, along with others, so i jumped at the chance when offered the opportunity to review and build this offering form Occre

like many in the range the way the kits are laid out in the generic box works, nothing moves or gets damaged

 

so lets look in the box

generic box with kit poster taped on, 

 

 

 

Edited July 28 by Kevin

[Kevin]

Good morning everyone

sorry i was delayed in continuing this review, poor photos, another new puppy and real life issues

wood package

the wood quality looks very good, and although i am not a fan of veneers, this looks like it will be usable for 2nd planking, a large selection of strip stock sizes and dowling, made up of lime, Sycamore, Sapelli, Walnut

 

i am, still trying to present phots better

Edited July 28 by Kevin

[Kevin]

Lasered parts

MDF keel in 3 parts

Laser wood frames are are made from decent quality ply and well lasered with minimal burn lines if anything like the Belle Poule, they will slot together very well, however it looks like there is not enough of them, it is a single planked hull with a veneer covering, which to me is not double planking, just a way of covering up the way you are suggested to plank the first layer, which is full planks with infills, no tapering

 

deck

and a few other bits to make the hull up

[Kevin]

Fittings

all galleries are metal, nothing to build at all, the detail although lacking is crisp, and no flash, of the non standard fittings most are generic (one size fits all) no im not knocking the kit, i realise that the costs have to be lowered to make her affordable, but with a couple of kits under your best some of these bits may already be in a handy to use box, blocks and belaying pins are the most noticeable

not sure about the metal boats

 

[Kevin]

Sails

a full set is included. although i don't know how accurate they are, they look quite well made

threads and flags and plans

i find Occre threads to fluffy and quickly replace them, and i have never used brown on any of my builds

 

many page illustrated instructions, which shows everything when completed, very little build processes are shown

a separate instruction book shows the construction of the mast in the right scale, there is no tapering measurements

 

Edited July 28 by Kevin

[Kevin]

Conclusion

i am very much looking forward to building this, but research is needed to make a reasonable non OOB build

a lot of generic fittings need to be replaced, like blocks, belaying pins, gratings

no tapering instructions for the masts, i may obtain instructions from the Panart kit 

the way the stern is presented needs work to make it look right, a comparrison of Occre v Panart

2nd photo taken from google i believe is from

a MSW member @testazyk

 

Edited July 28 by Kevin